Report says Deadly Castle Peak Tragedy Came As Avalanche Was "Likely to Very Likely"
"There were no broken trees visible within the avalanche debris or encountered during excavation of the victims. It is unclear if this avalanche was triggered by the party or was a natural avalanche," a final report issued by the National Avalanche Center with these visuals indicates, concerning the death of nine people including three guides with the Blackbird Mountain Guides in the Sierra on February 17th, after heavy snowfall which followed dry weeks in the area.
Two groups were on a guided two nights and three days trip to the Frog Lake Huts in the Castle Peak area on Donner Summit, one made up of six females with two guides, and another group of three males with two guides all from the same guide service.
"On the morning of February 17, the members of these two guided groups from the same guide service were combined into a single group with four guides for the return to the trailhead at the Castle Peak Snowpark on Donner Summit," before the group divided again with part of them "skinning west, eventually into the avalanche runout zone below the north slopes of Perry Peak." One guide then assisted a client with a ski binding issue.
"A ski guide in the group yelled “Avalanche”," and one client "looked up to see a “wall of white with strange blurs of colors." He realized that the colors were the tumbling skis and clothing of the other skiers. He dove behind a dead tree and was quickly buried by the avalanche debris.
This group traveled below avalanche terrain and through the runout zone of an avalanche path during a period when a natural or human-triggered avalanche was likely to very likely,” the report concludes.
“Exposing only one person at a time to avalanche terrain is an accepted best practice for backcountry travel. This group consisted of 15 people. Analysis of past avalanche accidents has indicated that larger group sizes (4 or more people) have higher chances of being caught in avalanches.”
Six clients were killed identified as backcountry hobbyists Caroline Sekar, Liz Clabaugh, Carrie Atkin, Danielle Keatley, Kate Morse, and Kate Vitt.
According to responders, "a few of the members of the group were wearing avalanche airbag backpacks. None were deployed in this accident," the report indicates.
The guide company appears to still be operating. “We continue to grieve the devastating loss of life from the February 17 avalanche near Castle Peak. Following the release of the names by Nevada County, we hold each individual and their loved ones in our hearts. Those who lost their lives were deeply loved family members, friends, partners, and valued members of the broader mountain community. Among them were members of our guiding team: Andrew Alissandratos, Niki Choo, and Mike Henry; skilled professionals, colleagues, and friends whose passion for the mountains shaped who we are. We also mourn the guests who lost their lives; individuals who shared a love of the outdoors and were part of this close-knit mountain community. We are heartbroken with everyone who is grieving during this profoundly difficult time,” a statement on its website indicates.
Courses range from Women’s Intro to Backcountry for $275 to a Mt Shasta Ski Mountaineering 5 day skills expedition for $1,895.
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